Volker Türk Wins Second Term as UN Human Rights Chief Amid Western Pushback
Volker Türk won a second four-year term as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in a 144-10 vote with 13 abstentions, becoming the first to serve two terms since the post’s 1993 creation. The United States, Israel, Russia and others opposed the reappointment, while the European Union welcomed it. Türk has been a vocal critic of Israel’s actions in Gaza, and supporters say his leadership strengthens human rights advocacy; critics accuse the vote of politicization and bias against Israel. The process was overseen by UN Secretary-General Guterres.